Category: Books

“I, The Jury” (1982) starring Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino and Geoffrey Lewis / Z-View

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I, the Jury (1982)

Director: Richard T. Heffron

Screenplay:  Larry Cohen; based on I, THE JURY by Mickey Spillane.

Stars:  Armand Assante, Barbara Carrera, Laurene Landon, Alan King, Paul Sorvino, Judson Scott, Jessica James and Geoffrey Lewis.

Tagline: He’s charming, he’s sexy, he’s tough, and he’s too hot to cool down! He’s “The Hammer”.

The Plot…

PI, Mike Hammer gets word that Jack Williams, an old army buddy, was murdered.  Jack lost his arm saving Mike during the war.  Despite being warned off by the cops, Hammer decides to look into Mike’s murder.  Hammer hopes to find the killer before the cops.  That way he can make sure justice is served.

The leads point to a sex clinic, the C.I.A., mobsters and a psycho killer.

The movie is I, the Jury and court is in session.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I, the Jury features Armand Assante in his first feature film starring role.  Assante makes a great Mike Hammer.

Larry Cohen, the screenwriter also started as the film’s director.  He was replaced after six days of shooting since he was already $100,000 and a day over budget.

I, the Jury is based on Mickey Spillane’s classic novel.  Changes to the film include setting it in the 1980s, adding the CIA/Mafia subplot and more.  Thankfully Hammer’s final line in the novel was kept for the movie.

Larry Cohen planned to do a trilogy of Mike Hammer films since he had the rights to two other Hammer novels by Spillane.  Sadly, this never happened.

Laurene Landon is excellent as Hammer’s secretary Velda.

I, the Jury features one of my all-time favorite movie posters.  It was created by Drew Struzan.

I, the Jury (1982) rates 4 of 5 stars.

RIP: Dolly Parton

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Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter, actress, business woman and philanthropist died today.  Ms. Parton was 80.  No cause of death was given.

Dolly Parton was born in a one-room cabin in Pittman Center, Tennesse.  She was the fourth of twelve children.  Dolly’s father worked as a sharecropper, and tended to his own small tobacco farm.  Her mother stayed at home to take care of the family.

Dolly’s singing talent was recognized at an early age.  By the time she was ten Dolly sang regularly on local radio programs.  When Dolly was thirteen she sang at the Grand Ole Opry and released a single through a small recording label.  The day after she graduated high school, Dolly moved to Nashville.

Dolly was first recognized as a successful songwriter, often teaming with her Uncle, Bill Owens.  Several of her (and their) songs became top hits for recording stars such as Bill Phillips, Hank Williams Jr. and Skeeter Davis.   In 1967, Dolly became a regular on The Porter Wagner Show.  Dolly and Wagner released a top ten single the same year.  It became the first of their six consecutive top ten hits.

Dolly’s first solo number one hit came in 1970 when “Joshua” topped the country music charts.  As her hits continued, her fan base expanded beyond country music devotees.  In 1976, Dolly hosted a variety television series.  After one season, despite good ratings, Dolly asked to be released from her contract due to stress on her vocal cords.

In 1980, Dolly appeared in her first feature film, 9 to 5.  Dolly also wrote and sang the film’s title song.  For her efforts, Dolly received nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy and a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. Her song received nominations for an Academy Award for Best Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.  The song, which hit #1 won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

Dolly would continue to record songs, tour, headline on television and in feature films.  Her themepark, Dollywood, opened in 1986.  Dolly wrote three memoirs/autobiographies, co-authored a mystery with James Patterson, a cookbook with her sister, and five children’s books.  In 1995, Dolly started the Imagination Station, which sends books free of charge monthly to children from birth to the age of five.  Currently over 3 million books are mailed out each month.

Dolly Parton was known for her generous philanthropy.  In addition to her Imagination Station, Dolly donated to and helped raise money for many clinics and hospitals, PETA, the American Eagle foundation, victims of the 2016 Great Smokey Mountain fires, Pediatric cancer programs, hurricane relief, COVID research and many, many more programs.

Dolly Parton was one of a kind.  Her rise to international fame and success in every area she ventured is remarkable.  As talented as she was, it is her humanitarianism that impresed me the most.  Dolly was kind, humble and loved by all.  We will not soon see her like again.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Dolly Parton’s family, friends and fans.

CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis / Z-View

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CASSIDY’S GIRL by David Goodis

First sentence…

It was raining in Philadelphia as Cassidy worked the bus through heavy traffic on Market Street.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A few years ago Jim Cassidy was flying high.  Literally.  Cassidy was a well paid airline pilot.  Life was good.  Really good.

But that was then.

Cassidy was piloting a plane that crashed.  78 people were on board.  Eleven survived.  Cassidy was one of them.  The airline needed a scapegoat.  Cassidy was made to order.  They said Cassidy had been to a party the night before.  He had.  They said when he was flying the plane that crashed, he was drunk.  He wasn’t.

That didn’t matter.  Cassidy was fired.  He lost his pilot’s license and was lucky not to be put on trial.

Since then Cassidy’s life spiraled.  He lost everything.  He drank too much.  Way too much.  After a night of of boozing it up, he and Mildred, another drunk, got married.  It was a match made in hell.

Cassidy drives a bus by day while Mildred spends the time at a nearby bar drinking.  Cassidy comes home to find her drunk or still at the bar.  Then he starts drinking.  They fight.  Have sex.  Rinse and repeat.

Then Cassidy finds Mildred and Haney Kenrick getting friendly at the bar. Cassidy decides he’s had enough.  He tells Mildred he’s leaving her.  She asks for another chance.  Even though Cassidy is done, Kenrick wants Cassidy out of the way…

… and Kenrick has a plan.

+++

David Goodis takes us into a world of drunks, schemers and losers beaten down by the world and their own frailties.  CASSIDY’S GIRL is noir at it’s darkest.  I like the duality of the title. If I have any nit to pick, it is the ending is a bit too pat and upbeat for all that has come before.

This is my third Goodis novel and he’s yet to disappoint.

Rating:

“The Long Walk” (2025) / Z-View

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The Long Walk (2025)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay:  JT Mollner; based on THE LONG WALK by Stephen King.

Stars:  Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill.

Tagline: The task is simple: Walk or Die

The Plot…

Following a civil war, the US has become a military dictatorship.  Each year and event known as The Long Walk is held.  Fifty boys, one from each state, is randomly selected to particpate in the televised event.

The boys are given food and water.  Once The Long Walk starts it goes until there is one winner.  Participants must walk at a sustained speed of atleast 3 miles per hour.   Fall below that speed and a warning is issued.  After the third warning, the walker is executed.

The Long Walk ends when only one person left.  The winner gets a big cash prize and one wish answered.  The event is held to inspire patriotism and work ethic in a country working to recover from a great economic depression.

Friendships are formed as the boys begin their trek… but there can be only one survivor.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

In Stephen King’s novel the participants must maintain a walking speed of 4mph.  King asked that the speed be changed to 3mph for the movie.  He felt that 4mph was unrealistic for the distance they had to cover.

Way back in 1988, George “Night of the Living Dead” was attached to direct an adaptation of The Long Walk.

In a cast of exceptional actors, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill are standouts.

Kudos also to JT Mollner for his excellent screenplay.

I thought the ending was the weakest part of an exceptional movie.  I have since learned that there was an alternate ending.  I would have preferred the alternate ending much more. ***SPOILER ALERT***  In  the alterate ending, Pete spares the Major’s life. A postscript reveals Pete mails three envelopes filled with cash are mailed each month to Hank’s widow, Ray’s mother, and Art’s grandmother.

The Long Walk (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY: AN ARTISTIC TRIBUTE FROM THE SCREEN TO CANVAS by John Rivoli with a foreward by Sylvester Stallone is coming soon!  

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Rocky and Sly Stallone fans are in for a treat.  THE FINE ART OF ROCKY: AN ARTISTIC TRIBUTE FROM THE SCREEN TO CANVAS by John Rivoli with a foreward by Sylvester Stallone is coming soon!

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY is an immersive exploration and celebration of an iconic character — in time for his 50th anniversary.

Part art book and part retrospective of the first six Rocky films, this one-of-a-kind book invites fans to revisit the iconic franchise through artist John Rivoli’s collection of large-scale original paintings and iconic posters, showing this beloved character in a whole new light.

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY, readers follow Rivoli on his journey to portray Rocky through the lens of fine art and seeks to prove, once and for all, that Rocky is an art film worthy of being called a masterpiece. Rocky takes center stage in more than 70 paintings, posters, and other unique artworks, highlighting unforgettable moments from the Rocky franchise presented in original and unique perspectives as well as art collaborations with Sylvester Stallone.

UNIQUE GIFT FOR FANS & COLLECTORS: A fitting tribute to a landmark franchise and a great way to return to the ring, this art book offers a detailed account of the importance and meaning of each piece as well as an exploration into the techniques used, historical influences, and sources of inspiration that shaped each work.

SIDE-BY-SIDE ART: Experience an iconic scene from each of the six Stallone Rocky films that inspired each painting, including four exclusive paintings to this book.

OWN A PIECE OF ROCKY HISTORY: A celebration of a one-of-a-kind cinematic icon on his 50th anniversary milestone, this art book showcases Rocky in all his glory in multiple mediums and art forms.

PERFECT GIFT: Officially licensed by MGM/Amazon and with foreword from Sylvester Stallone, this is a special gift for Rocky fans, cinephiles, museum lovers, pop culture fans, and art educators.

THE FINE ART OF ROCKY: AN ARTISTIC TRIBUTE FROM THE SCREEN TO CANVAS will be released October 6, 2026.

Pre-orders are available now!

Deal me in!

“Little Big Man” (1970) starring Dustin Hoffman / Z-View

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Little Big Man (1970)

Director: Arthur Penn

Screenplay:  Calder Willingham; based on LITTLE BIG MAN by Thomas Berger

Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Martin Balsam, Jeff Corey, Chief Dan George, Faye Dunaway, Aimee Eccles, William Hickey, James Anderson, Alan Oppenheimer, Thayer David, Annette O’Toole and Richard Mulligan.

Tagline: Little Big Man Was Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

The Plot…

Jack Crabb is 121 years old.  A historian records Jack as he recounts his life story.  According to Jack, his parents were killed by Indians.  Jack and his sister were taken captive.  His sister escaped, and Jack was raised for a few years by the Indians.  Jack was given the name Little Big Man.

While still in his teens, Jack is “rescued” and sent to live with Reverend Silas Pendrake and his young sexually unfulfilled wife.  From there Jack’s life took unexpected twists and turns including…

  • Jack’s time with a traveling snakeoil salesman
  • Jack’s adventures as a feared gunslinger known as the Soda Pop Kid
  • Jack’s time as Wild Bill Hickok’s close friend
  • Jack’s married life as a partner in a general store
  • Jack’s travels west, attacked by Indians (again) and reunited with his Indian family
  • Jack’s troubles with a Contrary brave
  • Jack’s run-ins with General George Armstrong Custer
  • Jack’s claim to be the only white man who survived the Battle at the Little Big Horn
  • and even more

Jack aka Little Big Man is Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chief Dan George was a 1971 Academy Award Nominee for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role.  This was the first time a Native American received an Academy Award nomination.

There was an actual historical figure named Little Big Man.  He was an Oglala Lakota warrior who did fight at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

When Dustin Hoffman’s character is adopted, Faye Dunaway plays his new mother.  Hoffman is four years older than Dunaway in real life.

Little Big Man features Annette O’Toole’s film debut.

Little Big Man (1970) rates 4 of 5 stars.

WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden / Z-View

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WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

First sentence…

I surveyed the wreckage around Wisdom Corner.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Virgil Wounded Horse wants to walk a different path.  He’s given up drinking.  He’s given up violence.  He no longer works as the reservation’s paid vigilante.

When a members of the Pine Ridge 705 gang make a move to take-over Pudge Iron Shell’s business, Virgil agrees to attend a meeting to reason with the thugs and get them to move on.

The meeting goes sideways.  One of the goons charges Virgil.  Virgil answers by giving the hood a disfiguring injury.  Virgil and Pudge escape.

Now the stakes are raised.

Virgil knows that the 705 bangers will respond.  He can handle himself, but what if they target his family and friends?

When Benny Many Wounds, a respected Rosebud Lakota medicine man, elder, and good friend of Virgil’s is murdered, Virgil suspects the Pine Ridge 705 gang is responsible.

And they may be.

Virgil has to be sure.  Soon there are several suspects.

  • The 705 crew.  Benny was an outspoken leader on the reservation.  Killing Benny would send a strong message that 705 gang was here.
  • Mitch Gagnon and land developers.  Gagnon has big political aspirations and is backed by developers looking to build on sacred land.  Benny was an outspoken opponent.
  • A mysterious hacker who has been leaking documents that tie the reservation’s leadership (including Benny) to covering up atrocities.  Perhaps the hacker took things to another level.

Virgil seeks justice for Benny’s death.  Whether the 705 gang are behind Benny’s death or not, Virgil knows they have unfinished business.  Violence has found Virgil Wounded Horse… and now he welcomes it.

+++

Rating:

“House of Numbers” (1957) starring Jack Palance / Z-View

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House of Numbers (1957)

Director: Russell Rouse

Screenplay:  Don Mankiewicz, Russell Rouse; based on HOUSE OF NUMBERS by Jack Finey.

Stars:  Jack Palance, Harold J. Stone, Barbara Lang, Edward Platt and Timothy Carey.

Tagline: The Most Fascinating Puzzle a Man Ever Faced…and his love depended on the solution!

The Plot…

Arnie Judlow is serving a life sentence for murder.  When Arnie throws a guard over the third floor railing during an altercation, he realizes he may get the gas chamber.  Authorities are waiting to see if the guard recovers or dies.

Arnie comes up with a daring plan.  There is a construction area in the prison. It is off limits to prisoners. Guards just make casual checks there.  Arnie realizes if he can get into the construction zone overnight, he could do “something” that would get him over-the-wall.  The only problem is that during the night count, he would be discovered missing.  The guards would then search every square inch of the prison until they found him.

Arnie knows his plan would work if he could work out a fix for the night count.  And it dawns on him.  If Bill, Arnie’s twin, could sneak into the prison and take his place for the night count, Arnie could setup his escape plan.

Arnie convinces his brother, if the guard dies, Arnie will get the death penalty. The only way to save him is to take Arnie’s place overnight.  Bill realizes, the plan has little hope to succeed, but it is Arnie’s only chance.

Bill agrees to take Arnie’s place overnight.  If all goes well, Bill will get out the next day and Arnie will escape that night.

The best laid plans…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Jack Palance plays both Arnie and Bill.

Much of the movie was filmed in San Quentin.

Arnie’s escape plan is so over the top, I was lured in just to see if it would work.

Timothy Carey who is always interesting to watch has a small part.

House of Numbers (1957) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Man on Fire” (1987) starring Scott Glenn / Z-View

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Man on Fire (1987)

Director: Elie Chouraqui

Screenplay:  Elie Chouraqui, Sergio Donati, Fabrice Ziolkowski; based on MAN ON FIRE by A. J. Quinnell.

Stars:  Scott Glenn, Brooke Adams, Danny Aiello, Joe Pesci, Paul Shenar, Jonathan Pryce and Jade Malle.

Tagline: For an ex-CIA agent, the job of bodyguard for a twelve-year old girl should have been a breeze…

The Plot…

Christian Creasy is a burned-out ex-C.I.A. agent. Creasy used to be one of the best.  That was before the deaths that Creasy has seen (and been a part of) as a soldier and C.I.A. agent finally took their toll.

Creasy reluctantly accepts the job of bodyguard for a wealthy Italian family.  His job will be to protect their twelve-year-old Samantha.  By the nature of his job Creasy spends a lot of time with Sam.  Her parents are often too busy, so Creasy takes their role.   As time passes, Sam gets Creasy to drop his tough exterior.

Creasy is gravely wounded during Samantha’s kidnapping.  Despite life-threatening injuries, Creasy knows that every passing hour, makes it less likely Samantha will be returned alive.  Creasy is determined to get her back alive… even if it kills him.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Tony Scott was considered to direct, but ultimately Elie Chouraqui was selected.  Scott would direct the 2004 (and vastly superior) adaptation.  If Scott had made the film in 2007, he hoped to get Marlon Brando or Robert De Niro to star.

Brooke Adams, Danny Aiello, Joe Pesci and Jonathan Pryce get very little screen time.

Man on Fire (1987) clocks in at 92 minutes but seems longer.  The supporting cast could have been put to better use.  Come to think of it so could the stars.

Man on Fire (1987) rates 2 of 5 stars.

THE LAST GOOD GUY by T. Jefferson Parker / Z-View

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THE LAST GOOD GUY by T. Jefferson Parker

First sentence…

There’s this scene in old detective movies where the investigator sits in his office, waiting for someone to come in and hire him.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Roland Ford realizes that a beautiful woman with secrets who hires a private investigator to find a missing family member is cliche.  But that’s exactly what happens when Penelope Rideout enters Ford’s office to hire him to find her missing little sister.  Ford’s definitely attracted to Penelope, and that helps his decision to take the case.

Daley is Penelope’s fourteen year old sister.  Penelope has been her guardian since their parents died.

Ford discovers that Daley was seen with a twenty-something man later found murdered. Ford also learns Daley is somehow mixed up with Reggie Atlas, a charismatic Christian nationalist preacher. Atlas owns a secluded compound that is heavily guarded.  A ten-foot tall fence, multiple security cameras and armed guards indicate something sinister.

Ford’s instincts tell him that Penelope has lied to him… but he isn’t sure where the truth ends and the lies begin.  He just knows a child is missing and he may be her last hope.

+++

Rating:

“The Deputy” starring Duke Nicholson​, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish, Stephen Dorff, Devon Ross, Julia Fox, and Billie Lourd – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Here are the poster and trailer for The Deputy.  

The film is based on THE DEPUTY by Victor Gischler.  I read the book when it first came out and loved it.  If Gischler’s name sounds familiar, you may remember that Fast Charlie, the film starring Pierce Brosnan, was based on Gischler’s novel GUN MONKEYS (which I thought was better than the film).

Here’s to hoping the movie is as good as the novel.

THE DEPUTY | Official Trailer | Starring Duke Nicholson

In Theaters & On Digital September 25
Film Page: https://wellgousa.com/films/deputy

Chief Kreuger (William H. Macy) assigns rookie Deputy Toby Sawyer (Duke Nicholson) to guard a dead body. But when the corpse vanishes, Toby launches a frantic search that unearths decades of small-town rot. Pressured to look the other way, Toby finds a lone ally in Deputy Amanda Jackson (Tiffany Haddish) and sets his sights to unravel a lethal web of corruption to clear his name in a town where secrets stay buried.

Directed by Matt Sukkar
Starring Duke Nicholson​, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish, Stephen Dorff, Devon Ross, Julia Fox, and Billie Lourd

NIGHTFALL (aka THE DARK CHASE) by David Goodis / Z-View

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NIGHTFALL (aka THE DARK CHASE) by David Goodis

First sentence…

“It was one of those hot sticky nights that makes Manhattan show its age.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jim Vanning is a wanted man.  The cops want him in regard to the theft of $300,000.00.  The crooks involved in the theft want Vanning as well.  Problem is, Vanning can’t remember exactly what happened.

Vanning knows a man was killed during the robbery.  Did he kill the guy?  Was he part of the robbery crew?  Was he an innocent that got caught up in the theft?   He knows he had the $300,000.00 in a satchel at one point.  Now he doesn’t know what happened to the loot.

Vanning is tired of running.  It’s just a question of who or what is going to get to him first… the crooks… the cops… or his memory.

+++

NIGHTFALL was also released under the titles CONVICTED and THE DARK CHASE.  It was also adapted into a feature film under the Nightfall title in 1957.  It was directed by Jacques  (Cat People; Out of the Past; Night of the Demon) Tourneur and starred Aldo Ray, Brian Keith and Anne Bancroft.

Rating:

“Slayground” (1983) starring Peter Coyote / Z-View

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Slayground  (1983)

Director:  Terry Bedford

Screenplay: Trevor Preston; based on SLAYGROUND by Richard Stark

Stars:  Peter Coyote, Mel Smith, Billie Whitelaw.

Tagline: Welcome to Your Funeral

The Plot…

Stone is a career criminal.  He’s ready to walk away from his next planned armed robbery because his regular getaway driver is unavailable.  Stone’s partner has another wheelman for the job and convinces Stone to go through it.

Big mistake.

The new driver is inexperienced.  During the getaway, he causes a crash that kills a nine-year-old girl.  The girl’s father is a millionaire.  He hires a hitman to find and murder the men responsible for his daughter’s death.

The killer is relentless and the girl’s father has money to pay whatever the cost.  When Stone learns there is a price on his head, he goes on the run.

But there is no where he can hide.  The killer is closing in.

Stone… welcome to your funeral.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Slayground is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Stark (Donald Westlake).  Except for the title, little else from Stark’s novel makes it onscreen.

When the film was released I thought it was another killer at a carnival movie.  Years later I learned it was based on the Parker novels by Richard Stark.  So I gave it a go only to find out it had little to do with the Stark’s novel.  Meh.

Slayground  (1983) rates 2 of 5 stars.